Baby death father faces murder charge

THE FATHER of the baby girl killed in the Brae house fire last month has been charged with murder and attempted murder.

Billy Middleton, 32, appeared from custody in private on petition at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Monday after being arrested on Saturday. He made no plea or declaration, was committed for further examination and was remanded in custody until his next appearance.

Eight-month-old Annalise Middleton died in the family home at Burgadale in the early hours of Saturday 20th September before firefighters could reach her. They pulled Mr Middleton from the burning house and he was treated in hospital in Lerwick and Aberdeen before being released less than a week later.

The family’s six-year-old girl and four-year-old boy suffered the effects of smoke from the fire, but their mother Kareen was unhurt.

The house in the so-called Toytown estate was sealed off after the incident for careful examination by police and fire investigators.

No date for Mr Middleton’s next court appearance was given by the procurator fiscal’s office. His address was notified to the court as care of his parents’ house at Ackrigarth in Lerwick.